- Symptoms - Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.
- Statistics - Statistics and Epidemiology.
- Field Work - Tick Borne Disease of the U.S.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a tickborne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. This organism is a cause of potentially fatal human illness in North and South America, and is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected tick species. In the United States, these include the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni), and brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Typical symptoms include: fever, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, and muscle pain. A rash may also develop, but is often absent in the first few days, and in some patients, never develops. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be a severe or even fatal illness if not treated in the first few days of symptoms. Doxycycline is the first line treatment for adults and children of all ages, and is most effective if started before the fifth day of symptoms. The initial diagnosis is made based on clinical signs and symptoms, and medical history, and can later be confirmed by using specialized laboratory tests. RMSF and other tickborne diseases can be prevented.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Topics
Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Signs of illness, what to expect from your physician…
Statistics and Epidemiology
Incidence, Geography, seasonality, and more…
In-Depth Information
Guidelines and Recommendations…
RMSF News & Highlights
- Public Health Matters blog post:
Rolling Up Our Sleeves to Fight Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever - Free webinar CME course:
Recognizing and Treating Tick-Borne Diseases
Sponsored by MO Dept of Health and Senior Services and DEET Education Program. Free registration required.
Related Tick Topics
Avoiding Ticks
Avoid getting infected…
On CDC's Ticks website
Tick Lifecycle and Hosts
How ticks spread disease…
On CDC's Ticks website
Removing a Tick
How to remove a tick…
On CDC's Ticks website
Other Diseases Caused by Ticks
Learn more about other tickborne diseases that can affect your health…
On CDC's Ticks website
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch
Mail Stop G-44
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348 - New Hours of Operation
8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday
Closed Holidays - cdcinfo@cdc.gov